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The Public Publisher

Eric Eldred started the online Eldritch Press to make available literature that had lapsed into the public domain, yet lacked the sales potential that would attract commercial publishers. Then Congress passed the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act, and many of the works he'd published came out of the public domain and back under copyright. Eldritch filed suit, claiming the act erodes the Constitution's demand for limited copyright terms and a robust public domain. Appellate arguments begin in August. NPR's Rick Karr has an advance look at the case.

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